BETHESDA, MD – Jeanne Diane Spivak, 78, of Bethesda, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 8, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Jeanne was born on July 23, 1945, in Fresno, California, to Morton and Arnell Kudysh.  At just 3 weeks old, Jeanne trained across the country with her mother and grandmother while her father served in the Army in Guam.  She grew up living in Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. amongst a large and loving circle of uncles, aunts, and cousins.

In 1963, Jeanne graduated Northwood High School in Silver Spring, MD and, in 1967, she graduated from the University of Bridgeport School of Nursing in Bridgeport, CT.

After graduating from nursing school, Jeanne returned to Maryland and embarked on a nursing career at various hospitals, medical offices, schools, and pediatricians.  She also worked for the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service.  In 1968, she welcomed daughter Amy Lynn Yontef and, in 1973, son David Eric Yontef.  During this time, she found a second career as a devoted mother, Bluebird and Brownie leader, birthday party maker, and soccer mom – wherein she met some of her dearest, lifelong best friends.

In 1988, Jeanne married the love of her life, Marvin Jay Spivak, and moved to Potomac, MD where her next-door neighbors would become part of her new "framily."  Their six kids, Amy Lynn,  Kevin Richard, Gregory Mitchell, David Eric, Andrew Neal, and Robyn Allison, Jeanne and Marvin's family of eight quickly became known by all as "The Brady Bunch."  Together, the Brady Bunch shared more than a lifetime's worth of immeasurable celebrations, mitzvahs, graduations, marriages, births, vacations, concerts, sporting events, and live shows, all while laughing, loving, supporting, crying, and making real memories as a family.

Despite her big household keeping her PLENTY busy, Jeanne was determined to develop a legacy of volunteer work and community leadership.  She was a co-founder and early member of Giving Together, a Washington, D.C.-based giving circle of women helping women and children in need.  She was a passionate court advocate for women in Montgomery County, MD, seeking domestic violence protective orders.  And rather than shine the spotlight on herself, she chose to celebrate two big milestone birthdays by helping others.  At 60, she engaged the KABOOM!  organization and gathered friends and family to build a new playground for an underprivileged neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C.  At 70, Jeanne again gathered her friends and family with the Manna Food Center to help fight hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution and advocacy.  Later, Jeanne also became an integral member of A Wider Circle, a well-known charitable organization that helps to improve impoverished communities throughout the DMV area.

Although she spent her valued lifetime helping others, Jeanne was also very proud of one particular accomplishment she sought for herself, and that was to become a Bat Mitzvah on March 28, 2009 at almost 64 years old.

Jeanne will be best remembered for her insatiable and genuine compassion for others and her endless "little black book" of a social calendar.  She had a cherished love affair with Marvin, her husband of more than 35 years.  The two shared a life together in their charming Potomac home and, later, hip Bethesda condominium.  In her later years, nothing brought Jeanne more joy than being with her sixteen grandchildren and answering to the name of Bubbe.  She welcomed her grandkids into life with one of her specially knitted baby blankets, taught them all about their Jewish heritage, and together spent endless hours playing games like Rummikub, Charades, and Monopoly.  And, of course, Bubbe and her grandchildren also shared several Disney cruises and annual trips to Hershey Park and the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay together.  Bubbe will be missed beyond measure.

In addition to her parents Morton and Arnell, Jeanne was predeceased by her ex-husband, Stephen Yontef, first cousin Judi Aboud, and many other family members who both touched and shaped her life.

She is survived by her beloved husband Marvin, devoted children Amy Yontef-McGrath (John), Kevin R. Spivak (Kellie), Gregory M. Spivak (Zohar), David E. Yontef, Andrew N. Spivak (Jill), and Robyn S. Dinallo (Kevin); sixteen cherished grandchildren, Jacob, Sarah, Ella, Jordana, Annabelle, Alora, Lyla, Grady, Claire, Joseph, Kenzy, Raymond, Kate, Hunter, Cody, and Dasha; sister-in-law Myrna Ruck (Bruce) and son Ryan, and countless other extended family members and dearest of friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Giving Together, Inc. (www.giving-together.org).

A celebration of Jeanne's life will be held at noon on Wednesday, January 10th, at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, followed by burial services at King David Memorial Gardens, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042.  Shiva will follow that evening and the following evening, from 5:30 – 8:30 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, January 10th and 11th, at the Julia P. Bindeman Suburban Center of Washington Hebrew Congregation, 11810 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854.